Doing a DIY Floor Project

Is flooring something that you should EVER consider as a DIY venture? After all, it is a very specific project and something that gets a tremendous amount of wear and tear. The answer is that you can consider it a DIY issue, but there really are some occasions  when you have to consult the experts.

Salvage Projects

Because the world is finally going green to the fullest extent possible, it is conceivable that you might be able to outfit your home with salvaged flooring. This would be something like tile, stone, or wood flooring that was recovered from an older building before it was torn down and destroyed.

There are some times when you could reasonably feel comfortable using such goods, but let’s consider the alternatives. The average DIY person will be happy going to the warehouse store and buying what they need. They will often find guides that instruct them on which things to buy and even how to do the project.

A salvage warehouse is nothing like a home project place. You will not be told the best way to lay the salvaged flooring. You may not even be told how many square feet of material you can anticipate from the purchase.

This means that a salvage project is a time to call the expert flooring company to tackle the installation.

Of course, the other way you might “salvage” flooring is from materials that are not always considered as flooring in the first place. We have seen old wooden wine crates, old yard sticks, and old boards from furnishings and palettes used to make a floor. These too are “expert level” projects, but you might be able to enjoy some success if you tackle a small space first. For example, one family we know has a “yard stick” floor that the father and son put down during a weekend. They sealed and sanded this floor too, and it looks amazing.

Painted  Floors

The one place we can point to and say “Oh yeah, that is a DIY dream,” is in the “painted floor” area. This is something that requires mindful planning and preparation, and attention to the details, but is the kind of project that nearly anyone can handle.

There are now many DIY floor painting kits that can give people remarkable results. We suggest that you start small and begin with a solid color and a finish. You can then move on to special effects such as checkerboard floors or different patterns. We do not, however, suggest that you begin with staining floors in a unique way. This is something that should be done once they have experience with wood stains and how to manage them.

New Floors

Whether you are putting down a full piece of vinyl, a laminate floor, or carpeting, there are so many handbooks and “how to” manuals around that it is possible for a novice DIY person to successfully lay most new flooring materials. The one area we advise against working on your own is with tile and ceramics. These are tasks that require skill, and it would be best to have a bit of professional help with these costly and tricky materials.